R&D update: Know the pest, stop the spread, protect your business
27 March 2026
27 March 2026
Pest infestations can quickly undermine a nursery, reducing plant quality and saleability while creating reputational and compliance risks. Tomato potato psyllid (TPP) remains a pressing concern, with detections in Australia as recently as October 2025. Nurseries producing solanaceous crops, or moving plants interstate, are particularly exposed. Understanding TPP and how it spreads is critical for protecting your business and market access.
This update draws on our latest levy-funded Nursery Paper, Know the Pest, Stop the Spread.
Why TPP matters to your nursery
TPP can move long distances through:
- Nursery stock and infested plant material
- Equipment, packaging, and vehicles
- Secondary host plants and nearby weeds
Even nurseries without visible infestations can contribute to its spread. Non-compliance with movement controls can result in penalties, while proactive management helps protect your reputation and ongoing access to markets.
Identifying TPP
Growers can spot TPP through visible, practical symptoms on plants:
- Leaf yellowing (chlorosis)
- Cupping or deformation of foliage
- Shortened internodes
- General stunting of plants
TPP is also the primary vector of the bacterium Candidatus Liberibacter solanacearum (CLso), which causes zebra chip in potatoes and other disorders in solanaceous crops. This increases the pest’s risk profile and reinforces the need for vigilant management.
Common host plants include tomatoes, potatoes, capsicum and chilli, eggplant, tobacco, some ornamentals, and volunteer solanaceous weeds.
Practical takeaways for nurseries
All nurseries can reduce risk by:
- Complying with state-based movement controls
- Following robust hygiene practices
- Participating in surveillance and monitoring programs
- Integrating TPP management into your IPM strategies
Proactive nurseries protect their stock, reputation and market access while contributing to the national effort to limit TPP spread.
Access support
Growers can access a range of levy-funded and state resources:
- GrowConnex Extension Officers – risk mapping, training, and audit preparation
- State Agriculture Departments – state-specific guidance
- Pest ID Tool – online diagnostics for pests and diseases
- BioSecure HACCP – step-by-step plant protection and biosecurity programs
Report suspected TPP detections via the Exotic Plant Pest Hotline: 1800 084 881 and engage with GrowConnex Officers to ensure best practice.
For full details, read the complete Nursery Paper at https://greenlifeindustry.org.au/news/nursery-paper-march-2026
The ‘National Biosecurity and Sustainable Plant Production Program’ (NY20001), funded by Hort Innovation using the nursery levy and matched by the Australian Government, is a horticulture initiative designed to support nurseries in strengthening biosecurity and sustainable production practices.
